When I think of a ukulele, images pop into my head of all my trips to Hawaii; There’s always a large Hawaiian male playing an instrument unproportional to himself, with a grin from ear to ear. They’re so happy when playing too! “When in Rome (or in this case Hawaii) right”?

I love everything about the ukulele and the culture that surrounds it. Hell, even the Beatles wrote most of their tunes on ukes before transcribing them to guitar (just imagine While my Ukulele Gently Weeps ) But is it just me? Or does it seem like in the last few years, around every corner, a ukulele pops up. On the radio, on the television, at the beach, in the park, at school ect…

Being a product of both the 80’s and 90’s, ukuleles just didn’t belong with the rock n roll, pop, and other heavily synthesized music of my time. Although bell-bottoms, slit shades, glitter, and mullets have already made a come-back, I don’t think anybody saw this coming (Maybe I’ll look harder in Nostradamus’s writings). Anyways, In an age where Techno music, Dj’s, rap music, and heavy metal bands are flourishing everywhere, the fairly simple yet effective ukulele, has seemed to have found a unique home for itself in today’s music.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a proud owner of a Kala ukulele myself (that’s for free guys). I enjoy the natural chime of their gut strings, and of course the simplicity of its four stringed tuning. Also as a musical salesperson for years, I’ve helped unite many folks with their first, second, and third ukuleles. I’m also sure the Music industry is thriving on ukulele sales and the CD sales coming from its sounds.

Seriously though, like we used to say with at the local mom and pop guitar shops “How many guitars can we sell? The same goes with ukuleles. I was even reading a music publishing ad the other day and it read something like this,“ Executive Producers are in desperate need of ukulele instrumentals..All other instrumentals will not be considered” Really?

All I have to say is…….. UKE GUYS ARE MAKING ME CRAZY!!

In all seriousness though, as multi-instrumentalist and a uke player myself; All I have to say is, keep up the music with whatever it is you play; from the washboards and steering wheels to the train whistles and kazoos! VIVA LA UKULELE!

Are you uke crazy? What got you started in playing the ukulele? Let us know in the comments below.

BTW, for all you uke players out there we have just released our new Reunion Blues RB Continental Concert Ukulele Case and our Tenor Ukulele Case.

-Jesse

Photo Credit: Richard Holden